Biodynamic garden

Natural Home assistant editor Kim Wallace introduces a green gardening series on Biodynamic farming based on her trip to DeLoach Vineyards in Sonoma, California. She details the meaning of Biodynamic farming and a field preparation called horn silica 501.

Perhaps the more fitting expression would be, a watched seed never sprouts. But with this clever time lapse camera from Brinno, a great product for this spring, you can see your garden grow from day one until the first snow!

If you can’t build your dream garden just yet, container gardening is a great alternative. Check out these tips for homemade fertilizer and soil retention, and learn how to repurpose common plastic containers into handy individual gardens.

Finca Luna Nueva in Costa Rica’s verdant San Carlos agricultural region is a dynamic, living example of permaculture and biodynamic farming, where every being is part of a system that nurtures the body and the soul.

A 30-acre organic and biodynamic farm is the beating heart of the thriving 1,000-acre Serenbe community near Atlanta. As more developers integrate agriculture into suburbia, the joys and benefits of farming are becoming available to everyone.

One guest blogger loves building fairy houses for kids and with kids. She never ceases to be amazed at their instinct for this activity. They see things in nature to use and create with that we could never imagine. Check out some fairy garden ideas from the brightest children.

Getting into the garden for people with disabilities may require careful and creative planning and design to accomodate each person's unique physical needs. Providing safe access is important for physical well-being and enjoying gardening.

Family vacations to natural botanical gardens offer just as much all-ages fun without the hassle of crowds or pollution common at most amusement parks. Visit one of the oldest and largest botanical institutions in the United States: The Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis. See photos here!

In a wabi-sabi garden, plants are chosen because they belong in that climate, and they’re allowed to strut their stuff if they’re considerate of the plants around them. Both plants and guests are encouraged to meander and explore.

Fond memories of an anniversary trip to France and the beautiful Chateau de Villandry inspires the Lemon Verbena Lady to advocate kitchen gardens. Not only do they attract beautiful insects but they also spice up your summer meals.

I've had little opportunity to actually test live plants in my tenure with The Herb Companion. So, when DutchGardens.com sent me some of their beautiful tulip and hyacinth varieties, I was excited and impressed! See some results in this photo-blog!

Sit back with your favorite herbal beverage and join the Lemon Verbena Lady as she travels from Canada to Europe and back to the United States visiting gardens and checking items off her herbal bucket list.

For those of us interested in living a sustainable and simple lifestyle, gardening is a great way to enjoy the benefits of healthy, fresh food and avoid the impacts of industrial agriculture. Get tips that will make gardening easy.

Although most of us would love a lush landscape or garden, in reality, few of us have the time, space or other resources available to maintain one. Whether you’re short on space or short on time, these small space garden

I wish you could experience the English Walled Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, Illinois. Blooming wisteria drapes over rows of trellised classical columns and flowering fruit trees shimmer in the breeze.

Turn a boring wall into a vertical garden with The Woolly Wally Pocket. Made of 100% recycled plastic bottles, this hanging planter is the answer for anyone looking for a unique and eco-friendly planter for container gardening.

During farm tours at Finca Luna Nueva, an organic farm and resort in Costa Rica,, guests learn about the biodynamic preparations and compost that feed the vibrant, tasty produce they eat for dinner. The resort is connecting tourists to their food.

Lucky are we, that now we have several soiless options for growing herbs indoors, and many of them are very effective. The Power Plant Mini, from Prepara, in my opinion, is not among them. Read my review of this hydroponic product ...

Gardening is for everyone, even those with disabilities who think they are unable to. The problem to overcome is how to adapt and make adjustments so hyou can grow your own organic vegetables and herbs.

For some, the cold winter months may bring many ‘a’ merry moment. But for the sympathetic gardener, the humbugs start as the plants begin die. Bring your garden indoors this fall with help from your own personal gardening expert – the EasyBloom.

This spring become more self-reliant by planting herbs in pots, building raised garden beds, creating a worm composting bin and making your own fence paint. These gardening tips for spring will have you anticipating sunny days.

In the final installment of my series "7 Tips for Everyday Outdoor Gardening", I help you explore some simple yet effective tips to grow and propagate healthy plants, scare away pests and learn which common plants may be hazardous to your health.

It’s never too early to start thinking about planting your garden for the spring. I know I am already thinking about spring and warm weather. Spring officially starts Sunday, March 20th and it’s important to know when it is the right time to purchase your flowers and begin the planting process.

Gardening can make a difference! Across the country, people are building rain gardens to filter contaminants and ease overburdened stormwater systems. Here's how to build a rain garden in 10 easy steps.

Starting seeds indoors is economical, fun, and easy to do for most anyone. Gardening under lights can be as simple or complex, inexpensive or expensive as you desire. Starts can then be planted outdoors in easily accessed containers or raised beds.

What is more fun than digging in the dirt? Or better yet, playing in the mud? Our guest blogger Marguerite Dunne muses about gardening with children and how wonderful it is to introduce them to this fun and beneficial pastime. (There's always something to do in the garden!)

This spring, I am dreaming of delicious, beefy summer tomatoes. So I planted some; they're taking over my kitchen as we speak. I love fresh, homegrown tomatoes. And I just can't find delicious tomatoes in stores; even the local, organic market. Not to mention, I'm sick of paying for them! In fact, I'm tired of buying

It's time for fall gardening, indoor gardening and spring preparation. In preparation, do you know which products to choose and which to lose? Check out my picks for the best autumn gardening products! Part I.

If you're not tech-savvy, gifts kids’ll like are hard to come by. If you don’t want to waste your money on some electrical gadget that’ll likely be outdated the day after you buy it, check out these fun, garden terrariums. They even come in different themes!

In Arizona, an intrepid desert gardener harvests rainwater to grow his own food. A Missouri garden writer feeds his soil to feed himself. In Texas, a garden wall encourages community. These are a few of my favorite gardens.

The therapeutics of gardening and gardens have been known since ancient times. Health care professionals acknowledge this and have been putting it to practice for two-hundred years in this country. Horticultural therapy is good for the whole person.

Mixing ergonomic structure with a functional, innovative design makes the Radius NRG line my favorite gardening tool set on the market. And not to sound too much like a salesman (I don't work on commission) they are now available from The Herb Companion.

Ever had trouble growing rosemary outdoors, or getting it to survive past winter? Want to learn everything you need to know about growing gardenias? Find answers to the toughest questions and watch your plants return next spring with these simple steps.

I've never thought of myself one to carry on the family tradition of farming - but now that I have the opportunity to raise chickens within city limits, I am going to give it a shot! Read about how I'm getting started in urban chicken farming. And please, send me suggestions!

If you’re looking for a unique container gardening experience, look no further than growbottles from Potting Shed Creations. These self-watering planters are made in the USA from reclaimed restaurant wine bottles, and they’re as sustainable as they are stylish.

When you write for a blog called The Garden Gnome, you tend to get a lot of wacky things many of that make great holiday gifts. Among my favorite is the new book and guide to life, How To Survive a Garden Gnome Attack.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released the new version of its Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PHZM), updating a useful tool for gardeners and researchers for the first time since 1990 with greater accuracy and detail.

Anyone who has ever grown garlic knows how delicious the green tops are in spring salads and perhaps have even tossed a handful into a soup stock. With their heady garlic scent and bright green goodness, these edible green grasses are just the thing for winter weary palates.

Heartburn affects 44 percent of the population, and experts warn that serious side effects are more serious than we consider – potentially cancer. Learn about some treatments from experts that aren’t so tough to swallow.

You've probably seen this product in the endless issues of SkyMall, but let me just tell you, the AeroGarden is every bit as cool as it looks! Also read the history behind, "Mary, Mary quite contrary ..."

Fall is the best time to replant herbs if you're in an area with moderate winter temperatures. Our guest blogger in Texas shares which herbs she planted this fall, including her newest addition Moujean tea (Nashia inaguensis), a lovely, fragrant shrubby herb.

Looking for a last minute Christmas gift? Look no further! This adorable gift from the garden is inexpensive, easy to make and enriched with sentiment, courtesy of our good friends at Botanical Interests.

We're still frosting in Kansas but the herbs have gone on sale, and I'm happy to report that even though times are tough I'm keeping our nurseries in business. Chocolate mint, pineapple sage and lemon thyme are just a few of the herbs I've added so far this spring.

Give yourself a little extra reason to treasure your time in the garden by perusing the gardening articles from our March/April 2013 issue. We teach you how to have your earliest spring garden, give you tips on reducing your gardening resources, show you an unexpected source of nutrition, and much more!

Whether you’re just starting out on the green path or looking for more ways to live sustainably, check out Make Your Place: Affordable, Sustainable Nesting Skills by Raleigh Briggs, which teaches simple domestic skills to help you lead a DIY life.

Fennel is the perfect herb for the gourmet cook who loves to grow special ingredients. It requires some attention to blanching, mounding soil around the growing basal bulb to keep it white and tender, but is well worth the extra effort.

Knowing if a plant is invasive, exotic, or native can save you a lot of time and trouble in your garden. In this article, Master Gardener, Stephanie Montalvo will explain the differences and give you tools to figure out if a plant is good or bad for your garden.

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is a biennial, meaning it takes two years to mature and reproduce. Get your chance to grow parsley from seed in your garden by entering our special garden giveawy. Ends April 2, 2012!

Like herbs, evergreen trees have a powerful fragrance, some even with medicinal properties, and with a few simple steps, you can find the perfect tree to keep safe from fire and fresh throughout the holidays.

The health benefits of whole tart cherries are widely documented – improving sleep, fighting off infection and slowing the aging process. Now there’s a cherry juice not from concentrate – read about CherryPharm and its benefits…

Medicines and extracted herbs can be disgusting, even diluted in water. Luckily, there's a trick for those of us who don't want to grimace every time we try and do something healthy for our bodies! Read more ...

To celebrate the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo I'm throwing a party featuring some of the special Mexican herbs growing in my garden. Try these four unusual recipes: Black Bean Salsa with Cilantro, Papadzules, Minto Mojitos and Chocolate Banana Burritos!

Michelle Obama's new organic White House vegetable garden is the first of its kind since World War II. I spoke with a friend who was at the scene as students from a local elementary school broke ground Friday, which was the first day of spring. Find out what the new "First Herbs of the United States" are.

Four-o’clocks are an old favorite that have been around a long time. There is a reason why they have been in your family garden for generations. Comment for your chance to win four-o'clock seeds, courtesy Renee's Garden.

Chives are a cool-season, cold-tolerant perennial that love full sun and well-drained soil. Get your chance to grow chives from seed in your garden by entering our special garden giveaway. Ends March 7, 2012!

Lemon Verbena Lady is anxious to get planting new herbs in her herb garden. She explores the wonderful world of herb plant catalogs both in print and online in three installments because there is just so much herbal information to pass along!

As the paper garden catalog is slowly sinking in the west, the Lemon Verbena Lady is searching out herb seed catalogs and websites offering the best seed catalogs and herb seeds of every kind. This is the first installment of several catalog and website postings.

The Lemon Verbena Lady shares more about her experience at the 100th RHS Chelsea Flower Show, a popular flower show in the United Kingdom. Here she discusses which of the Chelsea Flower Show gardens were her favorites.

It is still very hot here in my part of Texas. Day after day the temperature reaches 100 degrees or above with no rain. I was in town this morning and two people stopped me to ask how to keep their plants alive in this weather. Here is my advice.

The Chinese lantern plant (Physalis alkekengi), also known as the winter cherry, enjoys a library of culinary and medicinal benefits. Here are the answers to some of the questions you have asked about growing this incredible species.

Until this year our newest guest blogger thought loofahs were a sea sponge. Wrong! While visiting California she came across The Luffa Farm in Nipomo, California. Discover what's so great about growing a luffa gourd!

This weekend project is perfect for the herb gardener with limited space. It gives more surface area for the herbs to spill from, a lot more soil to hold nutrients and water, and root room for all the extra herbs.

Personalize your gift giving with a unique herb garden gift. While this time of year conjures images of poinsettias that fade and collect dust long before the holiday festivities are done, a customized herb kit is a meaningful gift that will provide fresh herbs and provide naturally lush décor for many months afterward.

In the summer of 2008, one guest blogger started reading Rosemary’s Sampler, an herb blog by two of her two favorite sisters from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and was inspired to start writing her own blog: Lemon Verbena Lady’s Herb Garden.

The Lemon Verbena Lady spends time with Jekka McVicar, the "Queen of Herbs," and shows her the sights of Pittsburgh with herb gardens, both public and private, a retail experience and a delicious lunch cooked with fresh herbs and ingredients.

Gather herbs for crafting herbal remedies with our expert help. We share basic guidelines for determining the appropriate time of year to harvest each part of a plant and teach you how to harvest herbs from gardens.

A reader's request leads Lemon Verbena Lady into exploring the works of William Shakespeare for some of the herbal flowers and herbs of Elizabethan England. There is so much that there had to be a second act.

The Lemon Verbena Lady has been enjoying the 2012 Herb of the Year, the rose, in her garden. In this post, she shares her five favorite roses and instructions for how to make a delectable Rose Petal Jam.

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